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(No Model.)

J. M. DODGE.

Drive Chain.

i No. 238,096. Patented Feb. 22,188].

7 1.: i 1 I i an d I i I ca .1 J 4 w a a z //l J Wxl'rwsaw IMO N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT -FFICE.

JAMESYM. DODGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO EWART MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1\l',o.:238,096, dated February 22, 1881.

Application filed January 20, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, J AMES MAPES DODGE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Drive-Chains; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to that kind of drivechains which is composed of alternately-arranged plain open links and connecting-couplers, and has for its main object to provide for use a chain of this class in which theparts maybe designedly detached and recoupled by opening and reclosing at a given point any one of the links of the chain.

To this main end and object my invention consists in a detachable drive-chain composed of alternately-arranged flattened tubular couplers or connecting sections and links, made each of a single piece of wire bent into the form desired, and having one end of the piece interlocked with an eye formed at the other end, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to fully understand and practiceit, Iwill proceed to more fullyexplain it by referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan or face View; Fig. 2, an edgeview; Fig. 3, a section, (atom, Fig. 1;) and Fig. 4, a partial top view (showing the method of detaching the parts) of a chain made according to my invention as I have up to this time practiced it.

In the several figures the same part will be found designated by the same letter of reference.

A are thelinks, andB the couplers or connecting-sections. As will be seen from the drawings, each linkAis composed of asingle piece of wire, and is preferably about rectangularin contour, and each coupler B is in the form of a flattened tube about equal in length to the width of the rectangular opening of a link, and having a bore, which, while it is more than double the diameter of the end bar of a link in (No model.)

one direction, is in the other direction about equal to the diameter of such end ibar, asmost clearly illustrated at Fig. 3. The union of the ends of the single piece of wire composing each link A is effected at one corner of the link, as shown, bythe interlocking of the slightly-bent end portion, 0, with the eye d, formed at the other end.

When the parts of the chain are all properly coupled together, as seen at Figs. 1, 2, 3, the chain works substantially like drive-chains of an analogous construction, except as to the capacity of detachability, heretofore known and used; and when, for any of the usual purposes of detachment, it may become necessary to uncouple any of the parts, any one of the links A may have its end portion, 0, disengaged'from its eye d, as seen at Fig. 4:, by simply springing these ends apart, and after such uncoupling of the parts 0 and cl the end bar, carrying the slightly-bent portion 0, may be readily extricated from the coupler, B, in which it worked. In this manner any one or more links, A, (with the coupler belonging to it,) may be removed; or any one or more similar links and accompanying couplers may beintroduced, to either repair. or lengthen and shorten the chain.

To render the designed detachment of the parts 0 and 01 easy, the eye d should be slightly larger than the diameter of the end portion, 0, and to prevent any accidental detachment when the chain may not be under any tensional strain, the wire links A should be made so that the spring of the wire will tend to keep the parts 0 and d in a coupled or interlocked condition. Of course a like tendency will always exist when the chain is under anystrain in the direction of its length, and at such time the draftstrain would prevent any slipping of the eye at over and off of the bent end 0 any Way.

It will be seen that in a detachable chain such as described, the uncoupling and recoupling of any of the parts may be effected while the chain is in a substantially taut condition, which, in the use of drive-chains for some purposes or under some circumstances, is quite a desideratum.

The size, proportions, and detail conformation of either or of all the parts of the chain may, of course, be varied from what I have shown and described without departing from my invention, so long as the principle of eonstruction and mode of operation peculiar to my invention be retained in any modified form of chain embracing it.

It will be seen that an exceedingly cheap, simple, and durable detachable drive-chain may be made according to myinvention, which is most admirably adapted for use in many places where no very great strength is required in the chain.

The couplers B may be cheaply made of malleable iron, and receive nearlyor quite all the frictional wear occasioned by the contact of the sprockets of the chain-wheels with the parts of the drive-chain.

Having so fully explained the nature of my lar coupler, B, and a chain-link composed of 25 a single piece of suitable material, having its ends adapted to be connected together and disconnected, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 0 my hand this 27th day of October, 1880.

JAMES M. DODGE.

In presence of- S. HOWARD SMITH, B. M. SAUNDERS. 

